PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Quarterback Tom Brandstater said he went around the Fresno State locker room after Monday's game against Rutgers and shook hands with his defense.
He needed to give them something, because in the first half the offense didn't lend much of a hand.
Brandstater's offense mustered all of 102 yards and six first downs in the first half, but the Bulldogs went into halftime with a scoreless tie because of the defense's stellar play and some Rutgers miscues.
The Bulldogs' offense used those extra chances and came alive in the second half, surging to a season-opening 24-7 victory over Rutgers before an announced sellout crowd of 42,508.
"I want to give all the credit to the defense," Brandstater said. "Those guys had a gutty performance in the first half. It easily could have been 21-0, 24-0 to start the second half."
The defense, led by Marvin Haynes with two interceptions, allowed Rutgers to drive in the first half, but the Scarlet Knights couldn't score.
"There was some bending," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said, "but there wasn't any breaking."
The defense made its mark by forcing two field-goal attempts – both misses.
The offense got moving on the first drive of the second half. The Bulldogs drove 57 yards in nine plays and got a 31-yard field goal from Kevin Goessling for a 3-0 lead.
The defense forced a punt on the next series, and that's when the offense's play-action magic happened.
Brandstater hit Seyi Ajirotutu on a 77-yard pass down the right sideline after the defenders bit hard on the play-action. Ajirotutu was caught at the Rutgers 4. Ryan Mathews – who finished with 26 carries, 163 yards and three touchdowns – rushed for a four-yard touchdown on the next play.
"That was a big momentum boost for us," Ajirotutu said, "and we kept feeding off that, putting back-to-back plays together."
The Scarlet Knights pulled to 10-7 on Kordell Young's touchdown run at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Fresno State responded with Ajirotutu and Brandstater connecting again, this time on a 31-yard catch. Mathews scored two plays later to make it 17-7 with 6:46 to play.
Fresno State sealed it with a seven-play, 55-yard drive, capped by Mathews' one-yard touchdown run.
The reporter can be reached at dlyght@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6400.
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